Embracing Risk

“Fear not for I AM with you; be not dismayed for I AM your God.”
- Isaiah 41:10

I’ve been learning more and more about myself as an evangeleader and one of the challenges I face is my own aversion towards risk. It is something I’ve had to face in the mirror, question, and manage in order to get where I am today. Ever since I started pursuing my true calling in 2000, it has been a journey of making decisions that require me to embrace risk.

Risk is defined as “exposure to the chance of injury or loss.” Certain decisions may expose us to a loss of money, respect, image, comfort, stability, riches, or even bodily health. When we fly, we are exposed to the possibility of crashing into the open sea. When we eat, we’re exposed to the chance of food poisoning, but most of us do these things without thinking much about the risk involved. Why?

Well, for one, we see the great benefit of eating and flying. In my case, if I don’t eat, I’ll disappear…so it is not an option for me :) I also highly doubt anyone wants to sail across the sea or drive to every work assignment that is several states away. We take on risk because of the overwhelming benefit.

Also note that we take on the risk of everyday decisions because somehow we have already estimated the possibility of experiencing loss or injury. We fly on vacation because we doubt anything would really happen. The possibility of injury or loss is very low. There are no equations or statistics running through our minds, we simply move forward because past experience and our observations give us a feeling of comfort.

As an Evangeleader, the ability to embrace risk is going to be a huge part of your success. Decisions to follow a career path, move across the country, take a new promotion, start a small business, or enter the mission field cannot be made without embracing risk. If we live in fear of the risks involved in life, it will be very difficult to fulfill our calling and glorify God at our maximum potential.

Before you opt out of your next decision because of the risk involved, consider these 3 key points:

1. First, what is the potential benefit of embracing the risk?

2. Second, think about your past experiences with God. Has he demonstrated a pattern of letting you down? Probably not. If so, you have to question whether your decisions were outside of His will.

3. Third, before you run towards your comfort zone, what do you observe in the lives of other men and women of faith. Has God let them down when they made a Godly and Risky decision?

Past experience should tell you that God delivers big time and observing God’s hand in the lives of others will just reinforce that fact. Remember, the Evangeleader is not just a leader in society. We’re leaders that walk with the Author and Finisher of our faith. Learn to embrace risk, because the benefits could be beyond your imagination.

Pop the Culture,

Bro. Wize

The Power of Questions

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ASK of GOD, who gives to all liberally and without reproach…”
- James 1:5

During my own journey as an Evangeleader, there are many answers that I’ve been looking for. However, with every answer, there has to be a preceding question…wow, that’s deep right? (Joking)

There are many students and professionals that find themselves looking for their life vision to be defined, a next step, the lost piece to the puzzle, a new opportunity…some overall sense of direction. Our mind begins looking for answers and wisdom for where we should be. We then begin to experience the swirl of confusion, doubt, and hopelessness. I’ve been there and at times I still feel it.

Why do we feel this way? Well, it’s because sometimes we look for answers without probing with the right foundational questions. When we don’t proactively ask the right questions, our journey becomes reactive and we wait for the next big clue to appear out of nowhere. We end up waiting for a great dream to come to us at night. I’m sure some of us have prayed for that!

Life guiding questions are an important part of personal progress as an Evangeleader. Have you hit a point of confusion? Do you feel you’ve hit a plateau in your career? Are you frustrated with being stuck in limbo land? As a student, do you know where to go after you walk off the graduation platform?

Don’t lose hope. In fact, be encouraged and use well-defined questions to light your path. Here are a few that have benefited my own career and spiritual development:

1. What do I enjoy doing? (Things that I draw energy and excitement from)
2. What am I capable of doing WELL? (talents, gifts, strengths)
3. What are my weaknesses?
4. Am I leveraging my strengths in my current job or curriculum?
5. Does my current job or degree program intrigue me?
6. Can I use it as a stepping stone, or is it just a stone in the way?
7. If where I am is not the best fit, what are some potential destinations? (A new degree program, new job, new career path, etc.)
8. What are some steps that I need to complete to get to that new destination?
9. What opportunities should I test out that are available to me right now?
10. What can I do to start building momentum towards the new destination?
11. What are the limitations and restrictions to my current progress? (fear, money, wisdom, etc.)
12. What can I do to resolve these limitations?
13. What does God have to say about my plans through Word and Prayer? Am I in a place of testing and refinement for a reason?

And the list goes on!

Specific questions are powerful because they force us to dig deep and provide honest answers. Sometimes, the answers are intimidating because you may be challenged to take a step of faith in an opposite direction. Other times, the questions will reveal life changing truths about you.

Don’t live life as it comes. We can never plan every detail of our future ahead of time, but we can at least probe ourselves and God with questions to prevent complacency. If you don’t find the answers you’re looking for right away, be patient, wait on the Lord, and keep asking the Source of all wisdom. Your answer is coming.

Pop the Culture,

Bro. Wize

Who are you?

“Who once were not a people but are now the people of God...”
- 1 Peter 2: 10

Expanding your influence, changing the world around you, excelling in your career, developing others, pursuing personal development, using your core strengths…what a great journey for the Evangeleader! But you're more than the activities you are involved in. You're more than the influence you are building. There is more to you than meets the eye. Transformers was a great movie by the way!

As you continue to lead in the marketplace, in the arts, in ministry, or any other career calling, the Evangeleader has to have a strong understanding of their IDENTITY. Identity goes deeper than the actions we demonstrate in public. Identity taps into how well we know our roots. Where did we come from? What drives our inner values? If our possessions are gone, what defines us then?

Before we found God, we were traveling through life aimlessly with no sense of purpose to identify with. We were the product of environment changes and other people’s perceptions. We didn’t have much to hope for because without a God to promise a destiny, life was a game of chance. Our values were corrupt and instead of leading, we followed the tide of life.

Now we are Evangeleaders…“the people of God”. You are not just your parent’s child, or an employee, student, or an entrepreneur. You are of God. How is that for an identity? To be of God is to have access to His direction. We have the ability to trust in someone much bigger than ourselves. When we are challenged in our journey, we know that God can guide us on the path of best results. As failure rears its ugly head, we can hold on to the fact that we are a people that have an eternal hope, grace to endure, and the ability to tap into the Divine. God’s character and image is within us, eager to take control.

As you influence pop culture, remind yourself that your identity is in God. Not man, money, activity, or power. First be bold in God then be bold in what God does through you.

Pop The Culture,

Bro. Wize